Al Jazeera: Trump and Ghani hold talks in New York as report says US approach to Afghanistan lacked ‘whole of government approach’. Deficiencies in Afghanistan’s security forces, including the military and police, are getting renewed attention as the US administration considers sending more than 3,000 additional troops to the country. Click here to read more (external
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty September 22, 2017 Pakistan’s new prime minister, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, in his first address before the UN General Assembly, rejected the new U.S. war strategy in neighboring Afghanistan while praising China’s growing economic role in the region. An important component of the White House’s recently unveiled strategy to try to win
VOA News September 21, 2017 ISLAMABAD — Pakistan has vowed to remain engaged with the United States in fighting regional terrorism and stabilizing Afghanistan, but said “any political or military” role for its archenemy India in the war-torn country will be unacceptable for Islamabad. Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi made the remarks late Wednesday during
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty September 20, 2017 Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has said he welcomes U.S. President Donald Trump’s renewed resolve to win the war against the Taliban and called his country “the front lines” in the global war against terrorism in a speech before the United Nations. Speaking at the UN General Assembly on
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty September 19, 2017 The Afghan Air Force (AAF) has received its first U.S.-made UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters as part of a planned replacement of its aging fleet of Russian-made helicopters. “The first Afghan Air Force UH-60s arrived today at Kandahar Air Field” in southern Afghanistan, the NATO-led Resolute Support mission said
VOA News / September 18, 2017 Defense Secretary Jim Mattis says the U.S. is sending another 3,000 troops to Afghanistan, an increase of over 25 percent in the number of American forces there. Mattis told reporters Monday at the Pentagon that the boost in U.S. troop strength would be “over 3,000,” but he declined to
Michael Hughes: The United States is not satisfied with simply intensifying airstrikes and loosening rules of engagements to terrorize the Afghan population because now it appears the White House is tempted to launch a CIA-run covert drone war. “The C.I.A. is pushing for expanded powers to carry out covert drone strikes in Afghanistan and other
VOA News / September 13, 2017 ISLAMABAD — The U.S. military dropped 555 bombs in Afghanistan against Taliban and Islamic State targets in August, the highest number in a single month since 2012. Overall, the U.S. has conducted about 2,400 airstrikes since the beginning of the year in support of Afghan partners battling the Taliban and
VOA News / September 12, 2017 Ayesha Tanzeem ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s prime minister has offered “joint patrols” and “joint posts” with Afghanistan as a means of bi-lateral verification of action taken against terrorist groups or their sanctuaries. “Whatever it takes to fight terrorism … Pakistan is totally open to that,” Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said
VOA News September 11, 2017 WASHINGTON/ISLAMABAD — Counterterrorism authorities in Pakistan are planning to introduce a new policy to curb extremism in the country. But analysts say only a thorough and effective implementation of the strategy would help the country rid itself of the carnage. Pakistan’s National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA), which monitors and proposes counter-extremism